from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, KenyaNAIROBI, (CAJ News) – HUAWEI reached the highest level of its global market share in the first quarter of 2019: its sales volumes have increased by half in the first months of 2019, knocking Apple out once again from its position as the second biggest smartphone seller in the world. By all accounts, the Shenzen-based telecom giant should have been on its way to the top, increasing its sales and presence all over the world but a recent turn of events has apparently hampered its dreams of domination.

A few days ago, the US government has declared a national emergency on cybersecurity, banning Huawei and its affiliates from purchasing technology from the US – both hardware and software. As a result, Google, Intel, Qualcomm, and many other companies have already announced that they are cutting their ties with the Chinese smartphone manufacturer.

Google

Globally, Huawei has a 17% market share. In Nigeria, less than 2% of all smartphone users have a Huawei device, according to StatCounter. If you are one of them, don’t worry. You’ll be able to <a href=”https://www.betway.co.za/Betgames” title=”play betgames at Betway on your mobile” target=”_blank”>play betgames at Betway on your mobile</a> and benefit of Google services like the Play Store and Google Play Protect: the ban affects the handsets that are not yet in use. You might run into issues like delayed updates and patches in the near future.

While the millions of Huawei owners around the world will not be seriously affected by this ban, the company itself will be hit hard by it – and so will its suppliers.

“Washington’s decision to force U.S. companies to stop doing business with tech giant Huawei creates losers on both sides,” Huawei’s official Twitter profile read on Saturday. For one, Huawei won’t be able to maintain the equipment it already sold to US customers – telecom companies in US states relying on the Shenzen-based telecom giant for running their wireless and internet infrastructure.

At the same time, Huawei has let the world know that it was prepared for such a situation: it has backup solutions to fall back to, including its own Kirin chips, it has its own app marketplace, and is reportedly working on its in-house mobile operating system as well. But this doesn’t help the companies that built their livelihood on supplying the Chinese telecom giant, though – and there are many of these, both in Asia and in the US.

At the same time, Huawei sees this issue as a temporary setback at worst. “We have already been preparing for this,” said Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei. “It is expected that Huawei’s growth may slow, but only slightly. Policies that threaten trading partners one after another rob companies of risk-taking attitudes and the U.S. will lose credibility.”

– CAJ News

]]>http://cajnewsafrica.com/2019/05/24/huawei-loses-access-to-google-services-after-the-us-declares-it-a-threat/feed/0Opinion: Trump Must Never Listen To The Warmonger Boltonhttp://cajnewsafrica.com/2019/05/23/opinion-trump-must-never-listen-to-the-warmonger-bolton/
http://cajnewsafrica.com/2019/05/23/opinion-trump-must-never-listen-to-the-warmonger-bolton/#commentsThu, 23 May 2019 16:21:30 +0000http://cajnewsafrica.com/?p=30672

Artwork by Michael Anderson and Sam Ben-Meir

by MICHAEL ANDERSON and SAM BEN-MEIRNEW YORK, (CAJ News) – WAGING a war against Iran, or even thinking of doing so, is sheer madness. Trump has thus far wisely rejected the warmonger National Security Advisor John Bolton’s outrageous advice. Waging another war in the Mideast, this time against Iran, would have not only disastrous consequences for the US but will also engulf our allies from which they would suffer incalculable human losses and destruction.
Bolton was the architect behind the devastating war in Iraq in 2003, which inflicted more than 5,000 US casualties and a cost exceeding two trillion dollars, allowed Iran to entrench itself in Iraq, and gave way to the rise of ISIS.

The Iraq war would be child’s play compared to a war against Iran, who will put up a fight, far worse than all of the wars in the Middle East since 1948 combined. Much of the Middle East will be in flames. American casualties will be many times that of the Iraq war.

Trump should never listen to Bolton, who is being strongly influenced by Crown Prince bin Salman and Netanyahu, who seem to encourage him to attack Iran. They are dangerous men, and want to prevail over Iran at the expense of the United States by dragging it into an unwinnable war.
No matter how much death and destruction Iran will suffer, it will be there to stay. To think that regime change in Iran, as Bolton and Pompeo continue to advocate, will usher in a democracy is an illusion that will never materialize.

The US efforts to establish democracies in Egypt and Libya in the wake of the Arab spring offer glaring examples of the US’ dismal failure. To resolve the conflict with Iran by toppling the clergy though the use of force is not the answer. Iran technically will lose such a war, but that in no way guarantees that regime change and democracy will follow. The answer lies through negotiation and only negotiation, until all conflicting issues that separate the US and its allies from Iran are settled peacefully.

Israel’s and Saudi Arabia’s concerns that if Iran acquired a nuclear weapon would severely compromise their national security is exaggerated at best and unfounded at worse. Even if Iran acquires such weapons, Tehran will not use them preemptively or in retaliation to a conventional attack on its nuclear facilities and high-value military assets.
If Iran is actively seeking nuclear weapons, it is doing so strictly for defensive purposes, just like Israel, Pakistan, North Korea, and India.

No one knows better than the Revolutionary Guard and the clergy in Tehran that using nuclear weapons for either defensive or offensive attacks is tantamount to suicide. Israel as a nuclear power will always maintain second-strike capability and will not hesitate for a moment to respond in kind and inflict unacceptable damage from which Iran can suffer for decades.

Like any other country, Iran wants to live and prosper in peace. Yes, it has been and still is involved in many nefarious activities throughout the region. And yes, it has the ambition of becoming the region’s hegemon. But, in the final analysis, Iran will weigh the benefits versus the disadvantages that it can garner by being a constructive player in the Middle East.

However, Iran will fight with all its might against regime change imposed on it by a foreign power or otherwise. The Iranian government, led by the clergy, has every right to govern itself in any manner it chooses. Its current military preparations are only in response to the United States’ threats to use force to effect regime change. Tehran has in no way any offensive designs in mind, and Bolton cannot fool anyone otherwise.
I give credit to Trump for being in fact the one who is resisting Bolton’s and Secretary of State Pompeo’s adventurous streak.

Certainly, Iran’s behavior is not acceptable. Iran must stop threatening Israel and other countries in the region, and disabuse Netanyahu in particular of the notion that Tehran is out to destroy Israel. A resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will also disabuse Iran from using that conflict to justify its enmity toward Israel.

There is no better or more urgent time than now for the EU to interject itself in an effort to ameliorate the growing tension between the United States and Iran. The EU should initiate behind-the-scenes negotiations with Iran and agree with the US on a joint cohesive strategic plan to mitigate the conflict with Iran.
The new negotiations should be based on quid pro quo aiming to achieve a comprehensive deal in stages that could lead to a permanent solution.

Every conflicting issue should be placed on the table. Iran must stop meddling in the affairs of other states, freeze its research and development of ballistic missiles, and end its support of extremist groups such as Hezbollah and waging of proxy wars in Yemen and Syria.
In return, the EU and the US should offer Iran a path for normalizing relations and removing sanctions, and assure it that the West will not seek regime change.

This kind of cooperation and high level of transparency will serve the objective of reaching regional stability from which Iran can benefit greatly, instead of continuing its nefarious activities which invite even more severe sanctions, and potentially a devastating war.

Neither Tehran nor Washington want war, and every party directly or indirectly affected by the conflict with Iran—especially Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the other Gulf states—will greatly benefit from a new, peaceful agreement with Iran.

Trump must not engage the United States in another war in the Middle East. We have and continue to pay dearly for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and we are still fighting the latter. Of all the promises that Trump made in his political campaign for the presidency, preventing another war is the one promise he must keep.

ABOUT DR ALON BEN-MEIR
Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies.

alon@alonben-meir.com

]]>http://cajnewsafrica.com/2019/05/23/opinion-trump-must-never-listen-to-the-warmonger-bolton/feed/0Doubts over Gadaffi ‘treasure’ found in Kenyahttp://cajnewsafrica.com/2019/05/23/doubts-over-gadaffi-treasure-found-in-kenya/
http://cajnewsafrica.com/2019/05/23/doubts-over-gadaffi-treasure-found-in-kenya/#commentsThu, 23 May 2019 13:08:03 +0000http://cajnewsafrica.com/?p=30669

Slain former Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi

from AHMED ZAYED in Tripoli, LibyaTRIPOLI, (CAJ News) – THE purported recovery of so-called treasure of slain Libyan President, Muammar Gadaffi, in Kenya has brought to the fore the problem of fake money syndicates in the East African country.

It has been reported an amount of between US$80 million and $100 million was found at a warehouse of a logistics company in the capital city, Nairobi.

The amount is supposedly part of the billions of dollars the Libyan leader stashed before his ouster and eventual killing in 2011 by French-US backed North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) extremists.

However, there are doubts over the purported treasure reportedly found at the company called International Projects & Logistics Central & East Africa (IPLCEA) following a series of recoveries of counterfeit money in Kenya.

In February, counterfeit banknotes including Kenyan shillings, US dollars and Euros were found at a house in the central town of Ruiru. Police officers also recovered small pieces of gold and some licenced firearms.

Two men were arrested on charges of money-laundering.

In March, police seized wads of fake US$20 million at a Nairobi branch of a leading bank.

Six suspects were arrested.

Despite the prevalence of fake money, there are calls for authorities to investigate IPLCEA.

Analysts said if the reports of a treasure of Gaddaffi’s were authentic, the money must be surrendered to Kenya’s government.

If the money is fake, the company could face charges of manufacturing and distributing counterfeit money.

According to its website, IPLCEA is “dedicated to helping businesses succeed.”

“We achieve this by providing competitive services in the logistics and supply services and ensuring that the client remains in control of their supply agreements at all times,” it states.

In April, a South African newspaper alleged more than R400 million ($27,8 million) cash stolen from Libya by Gadaffi had been stashed at the rural home of former president, Jacob Zuma.

from NJABULO BUTHELEZI in DurbanDURBAN, (CAJ News) – NOW that the dust has settled between the Council of African Football Associations (COSAFA) and Zimbabwe after the latter pulled out of hosting the tournament, the country is again a favourite to put some daylight between themselves and nearest rivals when the COSAFA Cup kicks off in South Africa this weekend.

Conversely, the hosts are counting on home advantage and Zambia are eager to redeem lost pride.

The tournament starts in Durban this weekend after Zimbabwe pulled out citing insufficient time to prepare, incurring the wrath of COSAFA and rising a ban.

While Angola are the perennial dark horses, expect the likes of Namibia to stage some upsets and prove that their qualification for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations was not a fluke.

Add a guest appearance by the ever-improving Uganda and there are assurances this year’s edition of the COSAFA Cup will be among the most explosive in the tournament’s 22-year history.

Coming less than a month before AFCON 2019 in Egypt, this edition offers teams from the region a grand opportunity to test their readiness against Africa’s best in Egypt – the Land of the Pyramids.

The Warriors of Zimbabwe will be favourites to add on to their six titles.

Three of Zimbabwe’s titles have been won in South Africa plus the defending champions will be in familiar territory with most of its players plying their trade in the South African premiership.

The Zimbabweans have played the most matches (55), managed the most wins (33) and scored the most goals (99) to cement their place as the most successful side.

Long-time coach, Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzwamba, the most successful coach in the tournament with four titles, is still at the helm of the side.

His record-breakers resume duty at the quarterfinal stage at the Princess Magogo on June 1, against the winner of Group A, which features Angola, Comoros, eSwatini and Mauritius.

A good tournament will put them in good stead for AFCON, where they are pooled alongside hosts Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in Group A.

Four-time winners South Africa are chasing their first COSAFA title since 2016.

Bafana Bafana entertain Botswana in the quarterfinals on June 2 also at the Princess Magogo.

The hosts are using the tournament to widen their selection pool in preparation for Egypt where they are alongside Ivory Coast, Morocco and Namibia in Group D.

Zambia, another four-time winner, only has the COSAFA Cup as their only hope for silverware this year. A wobbly qualification campaign meant Chipolopolo missed out on the second successive edition of the tournament they won in 2012.

Their last COSAFA title came a year later. Coach Aggrey Chiyangi’s side are seeded and tackle the winner of Group B, consisting of Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Seychelles, on June 2 at Princess Magogo.

Three-time winners Angola have been a disappointment in recent editions, their last success coming in 2004. They are another side usitilising the tournament to prepare for their return to the AFCON. The Palancas Negras are in Group E alongside Mali, Mauritania and Tunisia.

Uganda are guest participants but are familiar with COSAFA tournaments having participated at the Women’s Championship in South Africa last year and at Under-20 level in the men’s competition.

The Cranes come with their tails up after qualifying for two successive AFCON tournaments, having waited 39 years to qualify for the 2017 edition.

Stand-in coach, Abdallah Mubiru, was upbeat ahead of the Durban assignment, which starts with a match against Lesotho’ Crocodiles. His side is made up entirely of locally-based players, many from SC Villa, Vipers and Kampala City Council.

“My main target is to perform better in COSAFA by putting up good performances in the tournament, which will earn us respect as coaches, players and the nation at large,” Mubiru told media.

from TINO PEPUKAI in Chiredzi, ZimbabweCHIREDZI, (CAJ News) – ZIMBABWEAN cotton farmers are advocating for payment in foreign currency to cushion them from rising costs of producing the crop.

They want an arrangement currently prevailing in the tobacco sector where farmers are paid in United States dollars.

The farmers have formally advised the Cotton Producers and Marketing Association for the farmers to be paid in hard currency.

“We have written a letter to the Cotton Producers and Marketing Association so that the organization approaches the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) in order for us to be paid in dollars like tobacco farmers,” cotton farmer, Gilbert Gapare, disclosed.

Gilbert Hlanga a cotton farmer from Mkwasine, said, “We are calling on the government to consider this issue of paying us in foreign currency seriously.”

He said the local currency, called the bond note, was losing value regularly.

“We feel we have to be rewarded for our hard work to produce the crop,” added Hlanga.

Luckson Mukochiwa, another farmer, was hopeful the Cotton Producers and Marketing Association would agree to their request.

“Most farmers have a good crop. We hope by the time we finish harvesting the crop, our proposal to be paid in foreign currency will have been given a nod by the government,” Mukochiwa said.

He said the organisation will soon meet with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe officials to discuss the issue.

“We believe farmers have a genuine cause and this has been long overdue,” Mubonderi said.

“We are engaging the RBZ before the onset of the marketing season to finalise this issue,” he said.

Munyaradzi Chikasha, Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) manager for Chiredzi district, told CAJ News they would only be able to pay farmers in foreign currency once government approved and made the money available.

“We will however continue to assist farmers with free farming inputs like what we have been doing all along,” Chikasha said.

from MAVHUTO BANDA in Lilongwe, MalawiLILONGWE, (CAJ News) – AFTER a run-up characterised by tragedy – including the escalating killings of people living with albinism and scores dead from a devastating cyclone Idai floods – Malawi is to hold general elections with the incumbent facing two members of his government and a familiar foe.

The watershed election is set for Tuesday, pitting President Peter Mutharika against his deputy, Saulos Klaus Chilima, Minister Atupele Muluzi and opposition contender, Lazarus Chakwera.

More than 6,8 million voters are registered, out of the country’s population of more than 19 million people, to cast their ballots in the polls to be held 25 years after the restoration of democracy in the Southern African country.

The campaign period ended on Sunday morning.

A day earlier, Mutharika (78), in power since 2014, addressed his final Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) campaign rally in Blantyre, the country’s centre of finance and commerce, and its second largest city.

He reiterated a pledge to revive the economy, build more schools and establish factories.

“We have set Malawi on the path of progress. Given a chance for another five years, I will develop this country beyond recognition,” the incumbent said.

He said his government would continue building the economy and eradicate poverty, which is among the worst in the world.

Malawi is classified as a least developed country. Nearly 70 percent of its population live on less than $1,90 a day.

During Mutharika’s reign, Malawi’s economic growth has eased from more than 5 percent to 4 percent but his administration is credited with lowering the rate of inflation to 9 percent, down from 23 percent.

However, the former law professor faces a formidable task retaining power following reports of ill-health.

He is reportedly battling an undisclosed illness. Mutharikha has denied the reports.

Critics also accuse him of reneging on his pledge to combat corruption after it emerged he allegedly received $200 000 from an entrepreneur under probe for a improper tender to supply catering to police.

The issue is among matters fuelling divisions in the ruling party and as a consequence, Mutharikha will face his deputy, Chilima (48) in the election.

Mutharikha and Chilima were running mates in the last poll but have spectacularly fallen out after the latter accused the DPP of corruption.

An anti-corruption proponent, he quit DPP last year to form the United Transformation Movement (UTM) to contest the elections.

Mutharika fired him from cabinet but he stayed on as the deputy president as constitutionally, he cannot be removed from the position by the president.

Speaking in the northern town of Mzuzu this past weekend, Chilima restated his promises to create 1 million jobs.

Chilima’s campaign has also been premised on fighting graft that is blamed for worsening poverty in the country.

According to Amnesty International, since the return of multi-party democracy to Malawi in 1994, governments have undertaken important steps to contain corruption, and every government that has come to power since then has made the fight against corruption a central part of its agenda.

“The progress in the fight against corruption, however, seems to have stagnated: petty and grand corruption are commonplace and the high levels of patronage, nepotism and clientelism constitute a hurdle to the proper functioning of the anti-corruption framework,” the organisation stated.

Revelations of government corruption in 2013 have disrupted foreign aid, which constitutes 40 percent of the government’s budget.

Another contender synonymous with the ruling party is Muluzi, aged 41. The United Democratic Front presidential candidate He is the only opposition member to serve in Mutharika’s cabinet.

He has served in a number of portfolios and was health minister in the cabinet Mutharika dissolved last week ahead of elections.

A lawyer by training, he is the son of former president, Bakili Muluzi, who led the country from 1994 to 2004.

Chakwera (64) is making another bid for the presidency, five years after losing to Mutharika. He polled 27,8 percent to the eventual winner’s 36,4 percent.

It was the fifth straight loss by his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) since the historic 1994 poll.

His campaign received a major boost after his endorsement by former president Joyce Banda, who withdrew from the race in March.

Violence has marred preparations for what is to be most tightly-contested elections since then.

Last week, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) temporarily withdrew two of its long-term election observers after they were attacked by unknown hooligans in the southern Chikwawa district.

Some 28 election observers have been deployed around the country to oversee the period leading to, during and after polls.

Prior to the attack on observers, supporters of rival parties clashed intermittently.

These violations are putting paid to Malawi’s standing as a model in conducting free, fair and peaceful elections.

Gruesomely, the impoverished nation has been experiencing an escalation of attacks against people living with albinism, coinciding with preparations for the elections.

Politicians eager for office have partly been blamed for the violations, which are steeped in the false belief that body parts of albinos bring good luck.

At least 22 people with the condition have been killed since 2014. The murders are among some 163 violations during the period.

Hence, human rights groups are demanding that the next government must rebuilding the criminal justice system and ensure justice for the vulnerable individuals.

“People with albinism deserve justice for the hateful crimes against them. The impunity must stop,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Southern Africa director.

Malawi is also reeling from the devastating Cyclone Idai, one of the most severe weather disasters to strike the Southern Hemisphere.

Preparations for the elections have not been exempt from the cyclone that left more than 800 people dead in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe after making landfall in March. In Malawi, the resultant floods killed 60 people and displaced about 90 000 households in some 15 districts.

Potential voters lost their identity documents and relevant paperwork when they fled their homes. Public office hopefuls have faced problems reaching the electorate after infrastructure such as roads were destroyed.

Others, such as ruling party aspirant for Nsaje, Gladys Ganda, said the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) had denied them access to makeshift camps where they wished to hold campaign rallies.

by TINTSWALO BALOYIJOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – A NEW partnership has been launched to boost financial inclusion in Africa by utilising modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science.

Medina Islamic Finance, an Africa-focused digital Islamic microfinance platform, announced the partnership with United Labs, a New York-based data science venture studio that focuses on social impact in Africa.

Announced at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Islamic Development Bank Group in Marrakesh recently, it follows the realization that a majority of the African population (total population estimated at over 1,3 billion) is impoverished and only more than 20 percent has a bank account.

Through the partnership, Medina Islamic Finance will leverage machine learning and data science to further enhance its microfinance digital banking platform.

United Labs will initially provide Medina Islamic Finance with access to AI technology and automated local language customer support systems that will accelerate Medina’s underwriting while improving customer support.

“We are excited to collaborate with United Labs and to bring next-generation technology to Islamic finance customers,” said Wagane Diouf, founder and CEO of Medina Islamic Finance.

He added, “Seventy-five percent of the African population live on less than $10 a day and only 24 percent of Africans have a bank account. Medina Islamic Finance aims to address these challenges through innovative and ethical solutions.”

Medina Islamic Finance plans to roll out its suite of ethical banking solutions in key targeted African countries in partnership with several established financial institutions later this year.

Its microfinance digital banking platform will support microfinance customers, especially the youth and women, with ethical banking solutions such as interest-free loans, equity-based financing and housing.

Bachir Diagne, Chief Investment Officer and co-founder of United Labs, said Medina Islamic Finance had created a unique ecosystem including mobile network operators and banking and payment infrastructure.

“We are proud to support this inclusive ecosystem with our data science technology solutions and to boost financial inclusion in Africa,” Diagne said.

from PEDRO AGOSTO in Luanda, AngolaLUANDA, (CAJ News) – THE controversial firing of the head of Angola’s state energy giant has underlined President Jose Lourenco’s eagerness to cement his grip on power, crush dissenting voices in his increasingly divided ruling party and brought the purported anti-corruption campaign into the spotlight.

Carlos Saturnino, dismissed as chairperson of Sonangol, is the latest executive to feel the wrath of the leader who is becoming more and more trigger-happy.

Critics have also questioned the timing around Saturnino’s dismissal, while his replacement of an individual seen as a blue-eyed boy of Manuel Vicente, one of the most influential, if not controversial, politicians in the oil-rich Southern African country has further raised eyebrows.

At face value, Saturnino’s downfall is the aftermath of a fallout from an embarrassing fuel shortage that has left the country in dire scarcity of the commodity despite Angola being the second biggest producer of crude oil in the African continent after Nigeria.

A statement from the Presidency blamed “lack of dialogue and communication between Sonangol and the different state institutions.”

The president has not stated publicly the reason to sack the man who replaced the also-dismissed Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of Lourenco’s predecessor, Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

She was dismissed in late 2017 following accusations of fraud.

She denied the charges, which critics argued were a ploy by the incoming president to tighten his grip on power from the former leader.

Saturnino’s dismissal has also been shrouded in some mystery.

“Ostensibly, the latter (Saturnino) has been made the scapegoat of the fuel crisis in the capital Luanda and other cities around the country,” stated the business risk intelligence firm, EXX Africa.

Sonangol blamed “difficulties in accessing currencies to cover costs of importing refined products, high debt of the main clients of the industrial segment and systematic failures in cabotage vessels.”

Sources disclosed Saturnino was an opponent to the restructuring of Sonangol, one of the signature projects of Lourenco.

Another think-tank, Africa Intelligence Excellency (AIE), said the pick of Sebastião Gaspar Martins, a veteran engineer with 40 years-experience at Sonangol, showed the influence former Sonangol chair, Vicente, wields in Angola’s political economy.

With a beleaguered reputation, is the advisor to Lourenco.

He chaired Sonangol from 1999 to 2012.

Vicente was the country’s Vice President from 2012-2017, when Lourenco was the Minister of Defence.

Martins meanwhile is the former understudy of Vecente’s at Sonangol.

He was general manager from 1999 to 2000, then chair of its exploration and production entity, Sonagol P&P, then board member from 2010 to 2013. That was before he headed Somoil, a company that bigwigs of the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) founded in the 1990s.

Somoil retains stakes in offshore oil blocks and interests in onshore production permits. There are concerns Somoil’s links to Martins and Vicente, could see it improperly benefit from Sonangol’s asset sales.

The industry experts pointed at the timing of the expulsion of Saturnino coinciding with Sonangol’s extensive asset divestments.

AIE noted it came as energy companies from Russia eyed opportunities in Angola.

“Russian energy giants are looking to snap up big contracts as Putin Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin) and Lourenco, seem to enter a honeymoon period,” it stated.

“There is ample precedent indicating that Angola’s new ruling elite is seeking to capitalise on positions of patronage, while the country’s embattled president is facing off ruling party rifts and the prospect of mounting unrest over IMF-(International Monetary Fund) -mandated austerity measures,” EXX Africa stated.

IMF has dissuaded Angola from its extravagant public spending. Despite his purported commitment to reduce government spending, Lourenco’s administration is synonymous for chartered planes and hefty military spending – in a country that is battling a foreign and domestic debt estimated at nearly $80 billion (R1.2 trillion).

IMF earlier this year intervened to stop a bid to acquire 15 Bombardier and Boeing aircraft for TAAG Angola, the national airline, noting it infringed Angola’s compliance with the goals spelt in the IMF Extended Credit Facility.

Loyalists of dos Santos are making the most of the escalating grievances of the populace over the economic malaise.

The changes at Sonangol also cast doubts on the credence of Lourenco’s clampdown on corruption, which critics argue is aimed at ridding government and MPLA of dos Santos’s associates.

The assets in question were under the Sovereign Fund name and ownership all along. Angola lost the court case because there was no mismanagement proven.

The United Kingdom High Court stated that the Angolan government omitted relevant information to it (court).

There had in fact been no grounds for the arrests of de Morais and dos Santos’ son.

Attorney General Hélder Pitta Grós, conceded their case was weak.

“We had nothing and we preferred to release Mr Bastos,” he was quoted on video.

None of the ex-president’s children have been convicted but there are indications Lourenco is still eager to purge the former first family.

Daughter, Welwitschia dos Santos, has fled to the United Kingdom, fearing for her life after alleged threats by the secret service.

A ruling party MP, she has previously demanded Lourenco’s resignation.

“This gives credibility of the dismissal of the anti-graft crusade as a determination to hound out dos Santos children and loyalists out of the government, out of the party and now out of the country,” said Socio-political analyst, Dominique Jordão, said.

The prospect look dim, with strikes and protests projected, especially in the cities where people are worst affected by the economic slide. A split in the MPLA thus would exacerbate the situation in a country that suffered 27 years of civil war after independence in 1975.

from PATRICK CHITONGO in Sengwe, ZimbabweSENWGE, (CAJ News) – FOLLOWING four decades of risking life and limb in the wake of landmines planted by the colonial regime, Zimbabweans living along the country’s borders with Mozambique and Zambia must dodge the explosives for at least another six years owing to a number of challenges affecting the demining process.

Chief among the problems is lack of funds for the clearance exercise that is set to cost US$2 million.

Insufficient specialised equipment, dangers associated with the task as well as layoffs during rainy seasons have also contributed to the slow operations at minefields, 39 years after independence.

“Demining is an expensive, dangerous and slow operation which requires a lot of funding and specialised equipment,” said Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore, Zimbabwe National Army Director of Public Relations.

Makotore said they were struggling to secure funding from donors.

“All other mine-affected countries world over seek donor funding but we have been doing this from 2000-2012, without any donor support,” the army spokesman said.

“Based on the current rate of clearance, expected increase in capacity building of the National Mine Clearing Unit and the coming on board of an international demining organisation, it is envisaged the completion of mined areas will be by 2025,” Makotore said.

MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa with rival Thokozani Khupe of MDC-T urged to work together

JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – A South African-based non-governmental organisation advocating for political vibrancy in Zimbabwe has urged the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) factions to heed the court ruling nullifying the emergence of Nelson Chamisa as party leader.

The High Court last week ruled that Chamisa was not the legitimate leader of the official opposition and that a new leadership process must be held within a month.

Judge Edith Mushore ruled MDC had violated its own internal processes in appointing Chamisa as joint- vice president in 2016. He would later assume the presidency controversially after the death of founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai, in 2018.

Luke Zunga, Acting Coordinator of the Global Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum called on the MDC groups led by Chamisa and former co-vice president, Thokozani Khupe to reunite.

“The judgement can be a blessing in disguise, because it is forcing the party to work together to correct a tactical fault,” Zunga said.

“If I were the leadership of the MDC, I would immediately invite Dr Khupe to come and act as President of the party now, until the May Congress.”

Zunga said preferably, the party must elect a president and delay the full elective general congress preferably to around 2022, close to the 2023 general elections.

“The delay allows time to cool down and unite the party, and deny President Emmerson Mnangagwa early knowledge of his opponent and from manipulating behind the scenes.”

Chamisa’s faction has hinted it would defy the court ruling.

“Further, the public would be skeptical of a party which failed to heed court decisions. The courts must be respected, as the last arbiter of disputes,” Zunga warned.

Zunga argued parliament will declare that MDC parliamentarians from both factions were null and void.

Their seats could be declared vacant and by-elections held.

“If MDC then decide to rectify the irregularity and field candidates in the by-election half would lose the by-election. It would be shame,” Zunga added.

He said the court ruling was a plot for 2023.

“When the MDC MPs are dismembered, they change the law of presidential age to disqualify Chamisa, and there will be few MDC MPs to argue against the motion and ample evidence of puerility.”

Zimbabwe said the recent developments showed Zimbabwe is run on intelligence.

“Intelligence is to see ahead of your enemy. Without an intelligence system, MDC is sailing in muddy waters,” he concluded.